20 December 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Asma Jahangir posthumously awarded with 2018 UN Human Rights Prize

Her daughter ‘Munizae Jahangir’ received the prestigious award on behalf of her mother at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Ms. Jahangir was an outspoken critic of Pakistan’s powerful military establishment & fought against religious extremism and for the rights of oppressed minorities in Pakistan.

The United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights is an honorary award given to individuals and organizations in recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights.

2018 winners of United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights:

S. No.

Name

Organisations (Country)

1.

Ms. Asma Jahangir (posthumously)

Human rights lawyer (Pakistan)

2.

Ms. Rebeca Gyumi

Activist for the rights of women and girls (Tanzania)

3.

Ms. Joênia Wapichana

Activist for the rights of indigenous communities (Brazil)

4.

Front Line Defenders

An organization advocating and working for the protection of human rights defenders (Ireland)

Important Dates

2. International Human Solidarity Day being observed today

The United Nation (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on 20th December to celebrate unity in diversity.

The Day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity and encourages debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication.

The United Nations General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund on 20th December 2002 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme.

National Affairs

3. Govt to open Eklavya School in areas having the significant tribal population

According to Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, every block with more than 50% Schedule Tribe (ST) population and at least 20 thousand tribal persons, will have an Eklavya Model Residential School by the year 2022.

Eklavya schools will have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.

As per census 2011, there are 564 sub-districts having more than 50% ST population and at least 20 thousand tribal persons.

This upscaled initiative will focus on academic excellence and will lead to the holistic development of tribal children.

4. Commerce Ministry to set up trade promotion bodies in 15 countries

The Union Commerce Ministry is examining the proposal to set up a trade promotion bodies in 15 countries to promote exports of SMEs from India.

Suresh Prabhu Speaking at the two-day 15th Global SME Business Summit 2018, organized by the Ministry of MSME in partnership with CII.

Global Value Chains (GVCs) are specifically significant for SMEs as they provide them with the opportunity to contribute to exports without bearing the setup costs.

New Intellectual Property regime is being launched to strengthen the IPRs of Indian MSMEs as well as protecting IPRs of the other countries.

5. Govt. orders panel to identify new tourism projects in J&K

Under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), The Jammu & Kashmir government has ordered to constitute an official panel under the Chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik to screen and identify new tourism projects in the state.

The committee will complete the screening and identification of projects by the end of this month.

Earlier, Jammu & Kashmir Govt. has received Rs. 2000 Crore under the PMDP for the development of new tourist circuits and tourism infrastructure over the span of five years.

6. President’s rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir

As Jammu and Kashmir completed six months under Governor’s rule, President Ram Nath Kovind imposed President’s rule in the state.

After 1996, this is the first time the Central rule has been imposed in the militancy-hit state.

Now, the powers of the state Legislature shall be exercised by or under the authority of Parliament and all decisions will be taken with the concurrence of the President with the Council of Ministers and the PM advising the President.

Note:

In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, failure of governmental function results in Governor's rule, imposed by invoking Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

The state's governor issues the proclamation, after obtaining the consent of the President of India.

If it is not possible to revoke Governor's rule within six months of imposition, the President's Rule under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution is imposed.